Overview
Imagine 4D was founded in 2015 in Montreal in the heart of the simulation and gaming sector. As an innovative Immersive Display system provider, the company was born of an understanding that the visualisation of large data sets is a key element and could enhance a user’s experience by generating a feeling of total immersion within a Digital World.
Imagine 4D designs technologies that foster collaboration, build trust and accelerate decision-making in the workplace. Its flagship product, Station IX™, is powered by Reflected Reality™, a proprietary technology developed and patented by Imagine 4D, and offers a powerful visual experience that brings realism to a whole new level. With an extended field of view and true depth perception, our proprietary Immersive Display system enables professionals working with 3D content to leverage the full potential of their data.
Station IX™ allows users sitting or standing inside the headset-free, interactive environment to collaboratively view, experience and share their 3D content like they’ve never imagined before. This breakthrough technology offers multiple opportunities to assist in the:
- management of large projects;
- engagement of customers and other stakeholders;
- training teams and;
- operations.
We strive on connecting businesses with breakthrough technologies and helping them access their full potential. Through our alliance with L3Harris, also located in Montreal, we are bringing new and exciting 3D visualization technologies to the nuclear power industry and, in particular the growing SMR marketplace as a member of Team Canada.
Designers, students, and workers can immerse themselves in a physically accurate digital duplicate of the reference nuclear facility, as if they were physically there. The value of the creation of accurate 3D model imagery has been clear for many years, however a user-friendly method for teams of people to view and interact with the virtual model in a collaborative format has been problematic. The attempts of using VR headsets integrated together where more than one person can see and discuss the same imagery at the same time has been a struggle for many reasons. Imagine 4D, with the support of L3Harris, has solved these problems with the positioning of Orchid® IX, an OEM version of Station IX™, which brings new and exciting capabilities for use by the new wave of SMRs in Canada and other international markets.
Imagine 4D is committed to providing new technologies as a member of Team Canada in pursuit of the SMR programs whatever they may be. Our technology is not dependent on a particular SMR design but will bring benefits to any design of any type. Orchid® IX will provide uses never before imagined for the entire lifecycle from conceptual design, detailed design, construction, training, operation, maintenance and eventual decommissioning.
The design of any physical facility requires a clear and accurate understanding/representation of the dimensional characteristics that define the baseline facility. In a nuclear facility it is even more critical as various mechanical, electrical, nuclear systems must be accurately sized and interconnected. These design tasks are typically performed with some form of 3D CAD software and viewable only on flat computer displays of many varieties and sizes. These types of displays do not impart the notion that the viewer(s) are actually inside the facility or with any sense of true depth perception. Furthermore, various multi-disciplinary personnel routinely need to verify locations and dimensions and discuss potential options during design, operation and maintenance which is difficult to accomplish with conventional display equipment. In an attempt to create a fully 3D immersive experience, a number of companies and/or utilities have experimented with VR headgear which do have their place for specific applications.
Orchid® IX solves these issues by providing an immersive 3D physical environment with our patented Reflected Reality™ technology. With Reflected Reality™, the goal is to create an immersive, headset-free environment with accurate depth perception and unmatched richness and depth of detail. To achieve this, we have designed an optical system that makes use of curved mirrors and a curved projection screen, which control the shape and location of imagery reflected from these mirrors. The result provides accurate 3D imagery, eliminates eye fatigue and motion sickness, and enables teamwork by allowing users to comfortably view 3D data without the need for isolating head-mounted displays (HMDs).
Different sized viewing configurations can comfortably accommodate 1 – 15 individuals where design, maintenance planning and operating procedures, etc. can be reviewed as if standing in the reference nuclear facility and without any exposure to possible radiation sources.
Orchid® IX will contribute to effective communication yielding in increased efficiency, reliability, safety and a reduction of lifecycle costs of any of the possible SMR designs. The success of this cutting-edge technology, coupled with L3Harris’ world-leading nuclear power plant simulation technology and/or other plant digital assets, will lay the foundation for use of this technology not only for SMRs, but for the existing nuclear fleet as well.
ACTIONS
DEMONSTRATION AND DEPLOYMENT
Initiatives to Reduce SMR capital costs
STATUS: IN PROGRESS
IM01
Responds to SMR Roadmap recommendation(s): 38 Initiatives to Reduce SMR capital costs
ACTION
In the design of any nuclear facility there are design errors, miscalculations and modifications that can produce escalating design change and rework costs. The production and possession of a Digital Twin replicas for each SMR design will be accessible to a wide range of engineering and operation disciplines to assist in the performance of their tasks to minimize these errors and correspondingly reduce the cost.
EXPECTED RESULTS
The SMR developers and their customers will realize and understand the capital cost savings in three areas:
- Identifying design issues early on in the process, long before construction starts, potentially saving millions of dollars in cost overruns.
- Future SMR projects will not need the same level of effort to validate design for new customers.
- Future clients will have the ability to virtually enter the proposed facility via Orchid® IX and “see” for themselves.
DEMONSTRATION AND DEPLOYMENT
Strategic partnerships and business models
STATUS: IN PROGRESS
IM02
Responds to SMR Roadmap recommendation(s): 46 Strategic partnerships and business models
ACTION
Imagine 4D has partnered with L3Harris to merge technical offerings from both companies. Furthermore, we are currently demonstrating the successful partnership at a nuclear facility overseas. The partnership will be continually applied to SMR projects domestically and internationally.
EXPECTED RESULTS
The continuance of this innovative partnering between Imagine 4D and L3Harris will be expanded to work with SMR developers and other partners to advance SMR deployment in Canada and internationally.
DEMOSTRATION AND DEPLOYMENT
Fleet Deployment Pathways
STATUS: IN PROGRESS
IM03
Responds to SMR Roadmap recommendation(s): 47
ACTION
The first SMR deployment will produce the first Digital Twin for the specific SMR design in Orchid® IX. The Digital Twin can be used to assist in marketing efforts for additional SMRs. The potential client will literally be able to see the facility and the design in accurate detail and configuration enabling navigation to all systems. Potential purchasers will clearly see and understand what they are purchasing.
For the nth design of the SMR, the physical roadmap will be available to all involved parties. Rather than attempting to construct a mental image of a component, system or facility by collecting various design documents and piecing them together, the complete physical design will be readily available.
EXPECTED RESULTS
The Digital Twin will provide a clear 3D picture for additional SMRs to be constructed, maintained and serviced. Where individual systems of the SMRs are unique for plant auxiliary systems, those systems will be digitally modified to represent the specific site. Effectively, the SMR supplier will have an accurate Digital Twin on file for the entire fleet. Any future modifications to the fleet can be planned for fleet implementation and take into account any variance of a specific installation.